KR20050099630A - Method and apparatus to count broadcast content recipients in a wireless telephone network - Google Patents

Abstract

A base station (110) in a wireless communications network (100) counts mobile stations (114) receiving broadcast content via multi-user channel. The base station broadcasts (608) a repeating message identifying at least one broadcast content stream and, for each stream, a REGISTER (R) or DO NOT REGISTER (DNR) indicator. Mobile stations periodically re-examine (722) contents of this message. When the indicator is R for a broadcast content stream, mobile stations whose users have elected to receive it send (714) the base station a registration message for that stream. When the number of registered mobile stations reaches (612) a prescribed number, the base station changes (614) the indicator to DNR. When the indicator is DNR for a broadcast content stream, mobile stations refrain (712/716) from sending any registration message for that broadcast content stream. The base station may institute a recount (618) by resetting the indicator to R.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS TO COUNT BROADCAST CONTENT RECIPIENTS IN A WIRELESS TELEPHONE NETWORK}

background

Field

The present invention generally relates to wireless communication networks that provide broadcast content to mobile stations by a plurality of user ("shared") channels and / or individual ("dedicated") forward link broadcast channels. More particularly, the present invention relates to various embodiments of a method and / or apparatus for counting mobile stations receiving specific broadcast content from a given base station.

background

Many known communication systems transmit information signals from an origination station to a physically separate receiving station. The information signal is first converted into a form suitable for effective transmission over the communication channel. The conversion or modulation of the information signal involves changing the parameters of the carrier wave in accordance with the information signal in such a way that the spectrum of the finally modulated carrier is limited within the communication channel bandwidth. At the receiving station, the original information signal is duplicated from the modulated carrier wave received over the communication channel. In general, such replication is accomplished using the inverse of the modulation process used by the originating station.

Modulation also facilitates multiple access, ie simultaneous transmission and / or reception of some signals over a common communication channel. Multiple access communication systems often include a plurality of subscriber units that require intermittent service of relatively short duration than continuous access to a common communication channel. Several multiple access techniques are known in the art, such as time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), amplitude modulation multiple access (AM), and code division multiple access (CDMA) spread spectrum. The multiple access communication system may be wireless or wired and may carry voice and / or data.

In two modes of multiple access wireless communication systems, communication between users is performed through one or more base stations. As an example, one user on the first wireless mobile station communicates with another user of the second wireless mobile station by transmitting data to the base station by reverse link. The base station receives the data and, if necessary, routes the data to another base station. As a result, data is transmitted to the second base station by the forward link of the last base station. A "forward" link refers to transmission from a base station to a wireless mobile station, and a "reverse" link refers to transmission from a wireless mobile station to a base station. In many communication systems, the forward and reverse links use separate frequencies.

In addition, communication may be performed between one user on the wireless mobile station and another user on the ground station. In this case, the base station receives the data from the mobile station on the reverse link and routes the data to the ground station through the public line switched telephone network (PSTN). In addition, communication occurs in the opposite direction.

The aforementioned wireless communication service is an example of a "point-to-point" communication service. In contrast, a "broadcast" service delivers information from a central station to a plurality of mobile stations ("multipoints"). The basic model of a broadcast system consists of a broadcast net of the users that transmits news, movies, sports, or other "content" to users served by one or more central stations. Here, each mobile station monitors a common broadcast forward link signal. Because the central station constantly determines the content, users generally do not communicate again. Examples of common uses of broadcast service communication systems include televisions, radios, and the like. Such communication systems are typically very specialized.

In recent advances in wireless telephone systems, there is a growing interest in using existing predominantly point-to-point wireless telephone infrastructure to additionally deliver broadcast services. In contrast, a number of significant improvements have been made by QUALCOMM CORPORATION of San Diego, California. The following references (incorporated by reference) describe Qualcomm's various improvements related to the use of shared communication channels for delivering broadcast content in wireless telephone networks.

1. United States Patent Application No. 09 / 933,978, filed August 20, 2001, entitled "Methods and Apparatus for Signaling in Broadcast Communications Systems".

2. US patent application Ser. No. 10 / 192,132, filed Jul. 9, 2002, entitled "Methods and Systems for Initiating Multicast Services in Communication Systems".

3. US patent application Ser. No. 09 / 933,912, filed Aug. 20, 2001, entitled “Methods and Systems for Using an External Decoder in Broadcast Service Communication Systems”.

4. US patent application Ser. No. 09 / 933,971, filed August 20, 2001, entitled "Methods and Apparatus for Overhead Messaging in Wireless Communication Systems".

The following references (also incorporated by reference) additionally disclose various Qualcomm improvements related to the use of dedicated (or dedicated and shared) communication channels for delivering broadcast content in wireless telephone networks.

1. US Patent Application No. 10 / 356,053, filed Jan. 31, 2003, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Initiating a Point-to-Point Call During Shared Channel Delivery of Broadcast Content in a Wireless Telephone Network”

2. United States Patent Application No. 10 / 278,516, filed October 22, 2002, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Initiating the Sharing or Individual Transmission of Broadcast Content in a Wireless Telephone Network”.

3. US patent application Ser. No. 10 / 278,485, filed Oct. 22, 2002, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Switching Between Shared Channels and Individual Channels for Providing Broadcast Content in Wireless Telephone Networks”.

While the applications described above are satisfactory in many respects, one aspect of an underdeveloped wireless broadcast system is a means of counting mobile stations that receive broadcast content from a given cell site, base station, or other area.

summary

In general, the present invention relates to a wireless communication network that provides broadcast content to mobile stations by means of various shared channels and (optionally) individual broadcast channels. More specifically, the present invention addresses various embodiments of a method and / or apparatus for counting mobile stations receiving specific broadcast content from a given base station.

The base station repeatedly broadcasts a REGISTER (R) or DO NOT REGISTER (DNR) indicator in association with a message identifying one or more broadcast content streams, ie, each stream. Mobile stations receive and repeatedly inspect the content of this message. If the indicator is R for a broadcast content stream, the mobile station that has selected the user to receive the stream sends a radio registration message to the base station in association with the stream. When the count of registered mobile stations reaches the prescribed number, the base station constructs a broadcast parameter message with a DNR indicator. If the indicator is a DNR for a broadcast content stream, the mobile station refrains from transmitting any radio registration messages in association with that stream. The base station may initiate the recount by resetting the indicator to R.

Brief description of the drawings

1 is a block diagram of some hardware components and interconnections of a wireless communication network.

2 is a block diagram of an exemplary digital data processing machine.

3 is a top view of an exemplary signal carrier medium.

4 is a block diagram of hardware components and interconnections of a wireless mobile station.

5A is a state diagram showing an operating state of a mobile station.

5B-5E are block diagrams illustrating message exchanges between mobile stations and base stations during IDLE, ACCESS, TRAFFIC, and TRAFFIC / IDLE combined states, respectively.

6 is a flow diagram illustrating a base station operation for tracking the count of a mobile station receiving a particular broadcast stream from the base station.

7 is a flowchart illustrating the receiving and selection registration operation of a mobile station for receiving broadcast content in a wireless communication network.

details

The features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Hardware Components and Interconnect

Wireless communication system

According to an exemplary model of a broadcast system, one or more base stations transmitting broadcast content, such as news, movies, sports events, etc., serve a plurality of mobile stations. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a communication system 100 capable of performing a fast broadcast service under various embodiments of the present invention.

For ease of explanation, without placing any intended limitations, the subcomponents, interconnects, and overall arrangement of FIG. 1 utilize the exemplary architecture of CDMA-2000. However, the teachings of the present invention can be similarly applied to WCDMA, GSN, GPRS, EDGE and other architectures. The application of the present invention to other wireless network architectures does not necessarily require that the components or protocols described herein be specified for these architectures.

Broadcast content originates from one or more content servers (CS) 102. The content server 102 can send broadcast content formatted in packet form (or otherwise formatted) via the Internet Protocol (IP) connection 104 or other non-IP network (not shown) directly or directly. One or more digital data processing machines, such as personal computers, computer workstations, mainframe computers, computer networks, microprocessors or other computing devices, that communicate to a broadcast-packet-data-service-node (BPDSN) 106 via a connection. It includes. Depending on the implementation manner, node 106 may use the same or different hardware as a well known type of packet data switching node (PDSN) in a wireless telephone. Depending on each packet destination, node 106 forwards the packet to the appropriate packet control function (PCF) module 108. Each module 108 controls various functions of the base station 110 in connection with the delivery of high speed broadcast services. Among other functions, module 108 forwards broadcast packets to base station 110. Each module 108 may use the same or different hardware as a base station controller (BSC) of the type well known in wireless telephones.

Base station 110 delivers broadcast content and conventional wireless telephone calls to mobile station (MS) 114. Base station 110 may be implemented using hardware such as that used by conventional base stations that are currently commercially available.

Example Digital Data Processing Apparatus

Data processing entities, such as any one or more of a base station, mobile station, components 102, 106, 108, 110, 114, or other subcomponents, may be implemented in various forms. One example is a digital data processing apparatus illustrated by interconnection with hardware components of the digital data processing apparatus 200 of FIG. 2.

Apparatus 200 includes a processor 202 such as a microprocessor, personal computer, workstation, controller, microcontroller, state machine, or other processing machine, which is coupled to storage 204. In the example of the present invention, storage 204 includes non-volatile storage 208 as well as fast access storage 206. The fast access storage 206 may include random access memory (“RAM”) and may be used to store programming instructions executed by the processor 202. Non-volatile storage 208 may include, for example, battery backup RAM, EEPROM, flash PROM, one or more magnetic data storage disks such as “hard drives”, tape drives, or other suitable storage devices. In addition, the device 200 may, for example, be a line, bus, cable, electromagnetic link, interface, channel, or other means for the processor 202 to exchange data with other hardware to the exterior of the device 200. May include an input / output 210.

Although specifically described above, one of ordinary skill in the art (who knows the techniques of the present invention) will recognize that the above described devices may be implemented in other configurations of machines without departing from the scope of the present invention. As a specific example, one of the components 206, 208 may be removed, and in addition, the storage 204, 206, and / or 208 may be provided integrally on the processor 202 or the apparatus 200 It may be provided outside of).

Logic circuit

In contrast to the digital data processing apparatus described above, another embodiment of the present invention utilizes logic circuitry in place of computer executed instructions that implement various processing entities as described above. Depending on the specific requirements of the application in areas such as speed, cost, tooling cost, etc., this logic circuit can be implemented by constructing an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) with thousands of tiny integrated transistors. Such an ASIC may be implemented in CMOS, TTL, VLSI, or some other suitable configuration. Another variant is a digital signal processing chip (DSP), separate circuits (such as resistors, capacitors, diodes, inductors and transistors), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic arrays (PLAs), programmable logic (PLDs) device) and the like.

wireless telephone

4 further illustrates the configuration of an exemplary mobile station 114, shown as a cordless phone 400. The phone 400, along with the speaker 408, user interface 410, microphone 414, transceiver 404, antenna 406, and manager 402, can be changed depending on the application or any other conventional method. It may include a phosphorus circuit. Manager 402, which may include the circuitry described with reference to FIG. 2 (described above), manages the routing of signals between these components along with the ability to manage the operation of components 404, 408, 410, 414, 420. Perform the function. The above-described components may be implemented as subcomponents that may be implemented by, for example, several commercially available wireless telephones.

In a specific embodiment of the invention, there is an added component, the scheduler 420. As will be described in more detail below, the mobile uses a scheduler to trigger an evaluation event, i.e., the mobile considers whether re-registration is currently needed. Details of the evaluation event will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 7 below. The scheduler may provide its trigger in a periodic, non-periodic, event driven, or other suitable schedule manner. Scheduler 420 may include a timer, clock, counter, interrupt handler, software or firmware program or thread or subroutine, or the like. In addition, when the base station is provided with multiple broadcast content streams, the scheduler may optionally be activated at different times for different streams. In addition to activation times that are intentionally stored or derived, the scheduler can use the activation times that are acquired, downloaded, collected, and otherwise derived from an external source such as BSPM. In the case of activation time derived from an external source, information from the external source may or may not be associated with a re-registration or evaluation event, as long as the information includes some data suitable for deriving the activation time available. It may be.

Although the wireless telephone 400 has been described, the mobile station 114 may be mobile or stationary. In addition, the mobile station can include any data device capable of communicating over a wireless channel or over a wired channel using, for example, fiber or coaxial cable. In addition to (or instead of) a wireless or landline telephone, the mobile station may be configured to implement other devices including, but not limited to, a PC card, compact flash, external or internal modem, and the like.

action

Having described various structural features, some operating aspects of the present invention are now described.

Signal carrier

If any functionality of the present invention is implemented using program sequences executed on one or more machines, such sequences may be implemented in various forms of signal carrier media. In connection with FIG. 2, such signal carrier media may be, for example, other signals, such as storage device 204 or magnetic data storage diskette 300 (see FIG. 3), directly or indirectly accessible by processor 202. May comprise a carrier medium. Whether the instructions are contained within storage device 300, diskette 300, or elsewhere, the instructions may be stored on a variety of machine readable data storage media. Some examples include serial access storage devices such as direct access storage (eg, conventional hard drives), RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks), or other direct access storage (DASD), magnetic or optical tape. Electronic nonvolatile memory (e.g., ROM, EPROM, flash PROM, or EEPROM), battery backup RAM, optical storage (e.g., CD-ROM, WORM, DVD, digital optical tape), or analog or digital Transmission media and other suitable signal carrying media including analog and communication links and wireless communications. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the machine readable instructions may comprise software object code compiled from a language such as C, which is an assembly language.

Logic circuit

Unlike the signal carrier medium described above, logic circuitry may be used to implement some or all of the functionality of the present invention instead of using a processor to perform instructions. Thus, such logic circuitry is configured to perform an operation that executes a method that is an aspect of the present invention. Logic circuits may be implemented using many different types of circuits, as described above.

Lee Dong Hok-Arc Model

Each mobile station 114 operates according to the state diagram 560 of FIG. 5A. In IDLE state 562, the mobile station monitors the shared paging channel and the shared overhead channel, which will be described in detail below. These channels are shared in that all base stations broadcast these channels to all mobile stations within their range. Briefly, the shared paging channel informs the mobile station that a call is being entered and the shared overhead channel supplies various system related information. In IDLE state 562, the mobile station may further receive multicast broadcast content from the base station via one or more shared broadcast channels. In IDLE state 562, the transmitter of the mobile station is turned off.

In one example, a transition 563 from IDLE state 562 to ACCESS 564 occurs when the mobile station transmits a REGISTRATION message informing the nearby base station of the presence, identity, feature, etc. of the mobile station. In this case, the ACCESS state 564 transitions back to IDLE 562 after the REGISTRATION message.

In other situations, a transition 563 from IDLE 562 to ACCESS 564 occurs during the establishment of a point-to-point call by the mobile station or another party. In one example, when another party initiates the call, the mobile station receives a paging message over a common paging channel. After the mobile station responds to that page on the common access channel, the mobile station receives an allocation of traffic channels to perform a point-to-point call. The mobile station initiates the output call by sending the appropriate message on the access channel and receiving the channel assignment in the same manner.

Transition 565 from ACCESS 564 to TRAFFIC 566 occurs as an input call or output call passes, and the mobile station and base station begin to communicate on a traffic channel. In TRAFFIC state 566, the mobile station utilizes a separate traffic channel to perform point-to-point communication with another party. The newly disclosed point-to-point call may carry voice, data, or broadcast information as described below. If the point-to-point call carries broadcast content, this call replaces any shared broadcast that the mobile station previously received in IDLE state 562.

Transition 567 occurs from TRAFFIC 566 to IDLE 562 when the point-to-point call terminates by the party or the connection is broken. Transition 567 includes the release of the traffic channel used to carry the point-to-point call. If the point-to-point call includes broadcast content, transition 567 may optionally resume broadcast content delivery over the shared channel in IDLE state 562.

As described below, a properly configured mobile station (in the appropriate architecture of a wireless network) may reside in TRAFFIC state 566 for one or more point-to-point calls, while the one or more shared broadcast content streams on the shared forward link channel Receive separately and independently in IDLE state 562 for receipt.

channel

5B-5E illustrate some of the main communication channels used to relay information between the mobile station and the base station during the IDLE, ACCESS, and TRAFFIC states described above. The broadcast channel of the present invention may be utilized to relay data, audio, video, or any other desired content.

For convenience of illustration and without any intended limitation, description is made in connection with CDMA-2000. Nevertheless, this principle can be similarly applied to WCDMA, GSN, GPRS, EDGE, and other architectures. The application of the present invention to other wireless network architectures is apparent to those skilled in the art (with the benefit of the present invention) without the need to exemplify specific components and protocols for such architectures. And while various specific channels are given as an example, the invention may utilize other channels (futurely available or already known) without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The communication channel / link refers to a physical channel or a logical channel depending on its contents. Physical channel means a communication route over which a signal described in terms of modulation characteristics and coding is carried. Logical channel refers to a communication route within the protocol layer of a base station or mobile station. Reverse channel / link means a communication channel / link through which a mobile station transmits signals to a base station. Forward channel / link means a communication channel / link through which a base station transmits signals to a mobile station.

IDLE status

5B highlights the IDLE state 562. The base station 504 transmits the overhead channel 505 for the mobile station 502 to receive as well as all other mobile stations served by it. Overhead channel 505 includes system parameters (such as product level, product revision level, supported features, etc.), access information (eg, recommended power level, maximum message size, etc.), and information about neighboring base stations. It includes system information that is repeated periodically. In a CDMA-2000 system, the overhead channel 505 may include a forward broadcast control channel (F_BCCH).

As an example, the content of overhead channel 505 may include a broadcast system parameter message (BSPM) that specifies each different broadcast channel and / or program available through shared and / or separate channels. BSPM's indication that a program is available indicates that the program is currently being broadcast, that the program is scheduled to be broadcast at a specific time in the future, and that the program is not currently being broadcast but available to the mobile station upon request May mean different things depending on the desired implementation of the network. A program is another unit, such as a particular show, event, time period, or broadcast content or weather information such as CNN news or ESPN. The BSPM indicates which programs are on each of the base stations' shared channels (and the frequencies of the other channel identities), and which programs are available on the individual channels if available (at a specific frequency determined at the time of establishing service on the individual channels). Indicates if it can be obtained. The BSPM may list other predetermined information and / or various QUALCOMM patent documents cited herein, as described in detail below.

Base station 504 also transmits a shared paging channel 506 for all mobile stations served by it to receive. All mobile stations served by that base station 504 can monitor the paging channel 506 and be alerted upon arrival of a point-to-point call or other information. In CDMA-2000, the paging channel 506 is illustrated by the forward control channel (F_CCCH).

Shared broadcast channel 508 includes potentially many shared broadcast subchannels (parallel channels) transmitted by base station 504 for use by mobile stations in range of the base station. In general, communication system 100 enables high speed broadcast services by utilizing a forward broadcast auxiliary channel (F_CCCH) that is capable of high data rates and is suitable for reception by multiple mobile stations. The forward broadcast auxiliary channel may comprise, for example, a single forward link physical channel carrying broadcast traffic. One or more high speed broadcast service channels are time division multiplexed within a single forward broadcast shared channel. Thus, channel 508 can deliver multiple different broadcast content streams simultaneously.

The shared broadcast channel 508 may be freely available for all mobile stations or may be restricted for mobile stations that have completed certain registration (subscription) steps. Since channel 508 is broadcast across all mobile stations within range, the mobile station will eventually be able to access the broadcast without the user being able to access the broadcast or whether the user has registered. Manage whether or not. In one example, each shared broadcast channel may be encrypted with a predetermined code, which is provided only to registered mobile stations.

The mechanism for registration for broadcast services is described in the following documents, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. That is, US Patent Application No. 09 / 934,021 filed on August 20, 2002, entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OUT OF BAND TRANSMISSION OF BROADCAST SERVICE OPTION IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM."

ACCESS status

5C focuses on the ACCESS state 564. The mobile station 502 continues to receive the overhead 505, paging 506, and shared broadcast 508 channels. The shared access channel 522 is used by all mobile stations served by the base station 504. Starting with a point-to-point call, the access channel 522 can be used in two ways. For an incoming call, the mobile station 502 responds to the page using the access channel 522 when another station initiates a point-to-point call to the mobile station 502. For the output call, the mobile station 502 requests the initiation of a point-to-point call using the access channel 522. In the CDMA-2000 protocol, the access channel 522 is illustrated by the reverse access channel (R_ACH). During the ACCESS state 564, the mobile station 502 can continue to monitor the shared broadcast 508.

Apart from point-to-point call initiation, mobile station 502 can sometimes transmit a REGISTRATION message using access channel 502. This, along with any other relevant information, serves to inform the wireless network of the location of the mobile station 502. For other similar messages occurring in the REGISTRATION or ACCESS state 564, the mobile station 502 returns to the IDLE 562 state without entering the TRAFFIC state 566.

TRAFFIC status

5D highlights the TRAFFIC state 566. In this state, traffic channels 552, 554 cooperatively transfer a bidirectional point-to-point data call between mobile station 502 and base station 504. Channels 552, 554 are dedicated channels for the individual use of mobile station 502. Forward traffic channel 552, logical channels include parallel physical channels such as traffic content channel 552a and traffic signaling channel 552b. Traffic content channel 552a delivers content such as voice information or data from base station 504 to mobile station 502. Traffic signaling channel 552b carries signaling information such as housekeeping, metadata, system information, and other information describing channel 552a and / or its contents. In other embodiments, channels 552a and 552b may not be related rather than parallel channels as described above. Reverse traffic channel 554 also includes parallel traffic content and signaling channels 554a and 554b to communicate in the opposite direction of channel 552.

In the TRAFFIC state, the mobile station does not use access 522, overhead 505, or paging channel 506 because this information is carried on dedicated signaling channels 552b, 552a.

At TRAFFIC 566, the mobile station 502 can continue to receive broadcast content. However, simultaneous delivery of point-to-point calls 552/554 and broadcast content using some known hardware is essentially performed on individual point-to-point channels 556 rather than shared channels 508. This is mainly because the signaling and control procedures required for proper operation of the mobile station are quite different in the IDLE to TRAFFIC channel, and the hardware limited mobile station can be in one of these two states at any given time. Thus, while using traffic channels 552, 554, during this period any exchange of exchange content occurs on traffic channel 556, content occurs on 556a and signaling occurs on 556b.

In general, any forward link channel suitable for a point-to-point call can be used for the individual broadcast channel 556. Several more specific options are presented below. One option to use CDMA-2000 as an example is the forward basic channel (F_FCH) or the forward dedicated control channel (F_DCCH), which provides 14.4 Kb / s. Another option is the forward auxiliary channel (F_SCH), which provides up to 1 Mb / s. A faster option is the forward packet data channel (F_PDCH), which provides services up to 2.4 Mb / s.

Unlike the IDLE 562 and ACCESS 564 states, where the mobile station 502 only communicates with a single base station, in TRAFFIC the mobile station 502 causes traffic and broadcast content to occur in the case of a soft handoff (in the case of a CDMA air interface). And simultaneous exchange of signaling information with multiple base stations to achieve signal redundancy or to achieve other objectives. Accordingly, those skilled in the art (with the advantages of the present invention) will recognize that reference to a (single) base station in the present invention is merely for convenience of description. By utilizing the CDMA air interface, mobile stations in TRAFFIC can communicate with multiple base stations simultaneously.

In addition, techniques are known for the mobile station 502 to simultaneously perform multiple two-way telephone conversations on traffic channels 552 and 554. Such techniques may, for example, include a data stream different from time multiplexing so that a given channel carries more than one stream. Utilizing a similar technique, the present invention contemplates the mobile station 502 receiving multiple broadcast programs simultaneously on separate channels 556.

Traffic and concurrent shared broadcast status

FIG. 5E highlights additional states involving TRAFFIC (such as FIG. 5D) upon shared broadcast co-delivery to mobile station 502 (as in FIG. 5A). This communication state is utilized in accordance with the design of some known wireless network architecture, and the mobile station 502 includes appropriate circuitry to perform bidirectional point-to-point calls on channels 552/554 while on different channels 590. Only used when receiving shared broadcasts. The mobile station 502 must be able to participate in the IDLE state signaling and control procedure (for channel 590) and for the TRAFFIC state signaling and control procedure (for channels 552/554).

As noted above, the mobile station 502 may utilize known techniques for simultaneously conducting multiple two-way telephone conversations on the traffic channels 552, 554. These techniques can deliver more than one stream on any given channel, including, for example, different data streams that are time multiplexed. Utilizing similar techniques, the present invention allows mobile station 502 to simultaneously receive one or more broadcast programs by separate channels 552, perform one or more point-to-point calls on separate channels 552/554, and share channels. Consider simultaneously receiving one or more broadcast programs on 590.

More information

The physical and logical channels used for the high speed broadcast service are described in detail with reference to the following references, the references of which are incorporated herein by reference. That is, the document discloses (1) CDMA 2000 Physical Layer Standard, known as IS_2000.2, and (2) US Patent Application No. 09, filed on August 20, 2001 under the name "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIGNALING IN BROADCAST COMMUNICATION SYSTEM." / 933,978. The use of common and dedicated channels for broadcasting information is described in the following references, which are incorporated herein by reference. That is, US Patent Application No. 60 / 279,970, filed March 28, 2001, entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GROUP CALLS USING DEDICATED AND COMMON CHANNELS IN WIRELESS NETWORKS."

BSPM

As noted above, each broadcast capable base station repeatedly broadcasts a representative BSPM over the overhead channel 505 to inform the mobile station of the available broadcast content and related information of that base station.

One component of the BSPM is a registration indicator, which has a value of REGISTER (R) or DO NOT REGISTER (DNR). The registration indicator may be implemented as a flag, bit, code, message header, or other signal or metadata. In one embodiment, the BSPM of a base station includes a single registration indicator, which applies to all broadcast content of that base station. In another embodiment, the registration indicator of that base station only applies to selecting broadcast content, and the rest is processed regardless of registration. In another manner, as shown in the remaining descriptions below, the base station's BSPM includes different registration indicators for each different broadcast content stream (eg, broadcast channel, broadcast program, etc.) of the base station. The broadcast content stream corresponding to the registration indicator may be identified by number, textual text, or other code. If the registration indicator for a particular broadcast content stream is set to R, this instructs the mobile station to register if it receives or initiates reception of a particular broadcast content stream. Similarly, if the registration indicator for a particular broadcast content stream is set to DNR, this instructs the subscriber station to stop registration. The registration indicator and its use are described in detail below.

With respect to each broadcast content stream, the BSPM may optionally provide a registration wait factor. The registration wait factor induces the mobile station in determining how much delay to set before registration, in order to avoid system overload by all mobile stations attempting to register at the same time. The contents and use of the registration wait factor will be described later in detail.

In addition to the registration indicator, the BSPM may be configured to (1) channel content, i.e., information identifying and / or describing the subject broadcast program, (2) whether the subject program is available over a separate channel (whether the base station is programmed, Whether it is configured, whether it is equipped with the ability to provide a subject program on an individual channel, or whether the subject program is currently broadcasting), (3) whether the subject program is available from the base station via a shared channel, and (4) some Examples include the characteristics of a shared channel used to broadcast a subject program, which may depend on an air interface implemented with Walsh code, modulation type, Viterbi coding, data rate, error correction, etc., (5) broadcasting a subject program. The identity of the shared channel used (if applicable) The information may further include information, such as the logical frequency and / or physical bandwidth used by the subject base station.

The BSPM may be extended to include various other information and may be similarly reduced to exclude the above predetermined information. For example, the base station can save bandwidth on the overhead channel 505 by omitting certain information and instead providing the information on demand to reduce the BSPM.

Network behavior

6 shows an overall operation 600 that a wireless communications network performs to count wireless mobile stations that receive broadcast content over a multi-user forward link broadcast channel of a base station. For ease of description, without any intended limitation, the sequence 600 will be described with reference to the components of FIGS. 1-5E as described above.

In step 602, the network 100 executes various setup functions, such as setting up subscriptions of various mobile stations to various broadcast content. A subscription may be maintained by a mobile station, user or other entity and is associated with one or more broadcast channels, broadcast programs, or other specific broadcast unit (s). In one example, a subscription agreement is completed “online” by a network that interacts with the mobile station itself (eg, SMS, telephone voice menu, human user, or other means). In another example, a subscription agreement is completed “offline” (for wireless network 100) via a website, an attendant, mail, or another non-network interface, where results, status, and other subscription information are transmitted to the network. Appropriately forwarded.

The remaining steps 604-658 are executed independently by one or more base stations 110 in the network 100. As one example, all base stations 110 in the network 100 may independently execute steps 604-658. As another example, only properly programmed, updated or deployed base stations may execute steps 604 through 658, with the remaining base stations not participating in it. For ease of reference, the remaining description of steps 604-658 is made in the case of operation by one representative or "subject" base station.

In step 604, the primary base station learns that a particular broadcast content stream may be available from the content server 102 or may become available soon. Step 604 may occur by notification from the content server 102 (“push”), a base station query (“pull”) of the content server, or other means. The main broadcast content "stream" may include a broadcast program (such as an individual television or radio show), a broadcast channel (such as a CNN, ESPN, etc.), or other broadcast units. For ease of description, the following description, without any intended limitation, illustrates the broadcast content stream as a single broadcast program. In addition, without any intended limitation, the following description represents the case where a notification is received or obtained at step 604 that a particular broadcast content stream from the content 102 server may begin later at a given time. The main broadcast program may be "available" from content server 102 in that it is scheduled for later broadcast at a specific time or is currently received from content server 102 or another definition, depending on the desired implementation in network 100. have.

After step 604, steps 650 through 658 initiate and manage the transmission of the main broadcast content stream. Steps 606 through 618 look at the registration process and counting of registered mobile stations.

More specifically referring to steps 606 to 618, in step 606, the primary base station selects a threshold for later use when counting mobile stations that receive the primary broadcast program. Basically, if the number of mobile stations exceeds the threshold, the base station stops counting. This threshold is selected based on the purpose used, that is, the reason for counting the mobile station registration. In the example described, without any intended limitation, the count of the mobile station is used to determine whether to provide the main broadcast program on a public or dedicated channel. The shared channel is used only when the number of mobile stations exceeds the threshold, thereby saving broadcast power. Dedicated channels are used when the number of mobile stations is below the threshold, saving broadcast power (among other factors) due to the availability of power controlled individual channels. Then, in the example described, the threshold is selected according to the details of the air interface, in particular the relative efficiency (implemented) between the public versus dedicated channels.

If a threshold is selected in step 606, step 608 is then executed. In step 608, the primary base station sets the registration indication to R in association with the primary broadcast program to initiate repeated transmission of the BSPM. If the BSPM is already being broadcast due to the preexisting availability of another broadcast program, in step 608 the base station changes the BSPM to include a registration indicator R in relation to the main broadcast program. In either case, the BSPM can specifically identify the broadcast program as needed.

Optionally, the BSPM may also include a "registration wait factor" as described above. In general, the registration wait factor guides the mobile station in determining how many delays to configure before registration, in order to prevent system overload by all mobile stations attempting to register at the same time. In one example, the wait factor may define a maximum wait given for each mobile station to adjust the maximum based on a predetermined algorithm of reaching a wait time between zero and a maximum value; In another example, the atmospheric factor defines the mean latency of experimental, Gaussian, geometric, normal or other known distributions. This increases the registration time of the mobile station to prevent overload of the base station. In another example, the wait factor can be omitted or set to zero to not configure any wait. The content and use of the wait factor are described in more detail below with reference to FIG.

In step 610, the base station receives one or more registrations, that is, a predetermined format of a wireless registration message sent by the mobile station. As will be explained in more detail below, the registering mobile station receives or initiates reception of the main broadcast program from the base station. Further, at step 610, the base station counts the registrations. In the simplified embodiment, the base station counts all registration messages received from the mobile station.

In a more sophisticated embodiment, the base station counts only valid registration messages received from the mobile station. As will be explained in more detail below (FIG. 7), in this embodiment the mobile station is (1) code, format, layout, header, or other information indicating that it is a registration message unlike other types, and (2) the mobile station broadcasts. A code that uniquely identifies the mobile station (e.g., ESN, IMSI, TMSI, P-TMSI, etc.) so that the base station can confirm that the base station is actually subscribed to the content; (3) identifies the desired broadcast content stream to which registration is attempted. A predetermined format of a registration message including a part of all components such as a code is used. Optionally, the registration message may further comprise security parameters such as one or more of the following: (1) a digital signature or other subscriber identification code for the base station to verify the identity of the mobile station and / or subscriber, (2) transmission A message authentication code (e.g., a code calculated based on the integrity key and the message content) that proves to the base station that the registration message has not been modified, (3) the eavesdropper intercepts the valid message and destroys the system Crypto sync, such as a monotonic increment counter, which is reset when the mobile performs new authentication, used to protect against repetitive attacks it sends.

Thus, in this example, step 610 relates to a base station that determines if each received registration is valid and counts it only if it is valid. To be valid, the registration message must contain the appropriate content intended for the registration message, identify the recognized mobile station, and properly identify the desired broadcast content stream. Moreover, if security regulations are implemented, the base station adjusts the registration validity for one or more of the following: (1) a valid digital signature or subscriber identification code, (2) based on the message content and the submitted message authentication code of the mobile station. Recalculation of the base station of the message identification code to determine if it is appropriate, (3) confirming that the message has a unique crypto synchronization for any other registration message from the same mobile station.

Thus, at step 610, the base station counts valid registrations. In this example, the operation of the base station serves to collect registrations for upcoming broadcast content streams that are predicted to arrive later from the content server in step 610. Thus, by performing step 610, the base station measures the popularity of the upcoming program. The separate operation of the base station initiates the transmission of the broadcast content from the content server at the designated time and then manages the broadcast transmission (as described below with reference to steps 650 through 658).

In step 612, the base station queries whether the number of registered mobile stations (for the main broadcast program) exceeds the threshold set in step 606. In addition to counting the registered mobile stations (receiving broadcast content streams on the public channel), the count of step 612 may further comprise receiving unregistered mobile stations on the individual channel. For these mobile stations, registration is not necessary because the base station already knows that the mobile stations are receiving the main broadcast content stream due to call setup on separate channels.

If the count does not exceed the threshold, step 612 returns to step 610 to log more registrations. If the number of registered mobile stations reaches the threshold, step 612 proceeds to step 614. In step 614, the base station reconfigures the registration indicator of "BSPM" as "DNR" for the main broadcast program. Using the DNR at this point can significantly reduce access channel traffic and other network load since new participants in the broadcast are not involved in the base station in the registration process. It also facilitates the joining process since no registration is required for future participants.

In step 616, the base station inquires whether the situation justifies recounting of the mobile station receiving the primary broadcast. The base station can be programmed to recognize any desired condition for recounting. In one example, the recount may be performed periodically, and the recount interval may also change depending on the bandwidth of the main broadcast, system resources, and other such factors. For example, recounting can be performed every 1 or 2 minutes for high data rate programming and every 10 or 30 minutes for low bandwidth content. In another example, recounting may be performed whenever there is a certain change in broadcast content, eg, a change in data rate, quality of service, bit error rate, or other characteristic.

If step 616 finds that recounting is guaranteed, step 616 proceeds to step 617 where the base station returns a registration indication for R to resume registration collection for the main broadcast program. At this point, the count of registered mobile stations is reset to zero. Step 617 then proceeds to step 610 to collect the registration. Alternatively, if recounting is not guaranteed, step 616 proceeds to step 618. In step 618, the primary base station verifies that the primary broadcast program has ended. Examples thereof include natural completion of a given broadcast program, loss of a broadcast stream from content server 102, termination of wireless transmission, arrival of a scheduled end time of the broadcast content stream, and the like. If the broadcast program has ended, the routine 600 ends at 620. Alternatively, if the broadcast content stream continues, step 618 returns to step 616 and repeats as described above.

As mentioned above, the base station may provide one or multiple broadcast channels. Thus, the BSPM may enumerate one or multiple public broadcast content streams and one registration indication associated with each different stream. For ease of explanation, the sequence 600 describes the case of one main broadcast content stream. However, the base station repeats steps 604 to 620 for each different broadcast content stream, thereby separately tracking the count of registered mobile stations for each stream.

Then, steps 606 through 618 look at the registration process and counting of the registered mobile stations. In contrast, steps 650 through 658 initiate and manage the transmission of the main broadcast content stream. More specifically referring to steps 650 through 658, step 650 inquires whether a specified time for the start of the main broadcast content stream has been reached. If this time is approaching, step 650 proceeds to step 652, where the base station checks the count of the mobile station registered to receive the main program. As shown, this is easily accomplished by checking whether the registration indicator is set to R or DNR since it directly depends on whether the threshold has been met. When the indicator is set to R, because the number of registered mobile stations is small, the base station starts broadcasting the main broadcast content stream to the mobile on the individual channel (step 656). If the indicator is set to DNR, because the number of registered mobile stations is large, the base station starts broadcasting the primary broadcast content stream on a single forward link shared channel (step 654).

After step 654 or 656, the base station confirms that the content stream has ended, and if so, the sequence ends at step 620. If not, the content stream continues and step 658 returns to step 652 to reconfirm the number of registered mobile stations. In this way, the base station efficiently conserves using a more appropriate channel type. Although not shown, the sequence 600 uses hysteresis or other means to determine the state (654, 656) between states (as apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure) when the number of registered mobile stations perturbs above and below the threshold. It can be modified to prevent thrashing.

Delivery of broadcast programs on individual and shared channels is described in more detail in several US patent applications assigned to QUALCOMM, including one or more of the QUALCOMM patent applications specifically identified above.

Mobile station operation

7 illustrates an operation 700 performed by a mobile station, relating to the receipt of broadcast content from a base station, such as cooperating with a base station's scheme of tracking / counting mobile station reception of a given broadcast content. For ease of explanation, without any intended limitation, the sequence 700 will be described with reference to the components of FIGS. 1-5E, as described above, for the case of a primary mobile station.

In step 702, the primary mobile station subscribes to one or more broadcast content streams, such as broadcast channels and / or programs. The subscription mechanism is described in detail above and may be executed offline or otherwise online by a user not associated with the mobile station. As in the sequence 600, the primary broadcast content stream may include a broadcast program (such as an individual television or radio show), a broadcast channel (such as a CNN, ESPN, etc.), or other broadcast units. For ease of description, the following description of the sequence 700, without any intended limitation, illustrates the broadcast content stream as a single broadcast program (“main” broadcast program).

In step 704, the mobile station checks whether the content subscribed to the broadcast program is available from the mobile's " serving " or other primary base station, for example by reading the serving base station's BSPM. This step may be performed automatically by the mobile station or upon user request. When run automatically, the mobile station repeats this step on a periodic, aperiodic, or other advantageous schedule. Further, in step 704, the mobile station reads the BSPM to determine the applicable registration wait factor each subscribed to the broadcast program, as described in more detail below.

In step 706, the mobile station presents a content option to the user. That is, the mobile station provides audio and / or video information to the mobile station user, which lists available broadcast programs. This can be done on a "push" or "pull" basis. An example of a "push" technique relates to a mobile station that activates the mobile station as a pager, rings the mobile station, displays visual icons or other boundaries to actively change content to the user, and then provides content options to the user. will be. An example of a "pull" technique is to provide such information on demand for a user after the mobile station waits for the user to request content available information.

In step 708, the mobile station receives a decision about the desired broadcast program. For example, the user can select a desired program by performing keypad input, voice command, or the like. In response to the determination of step 708, in step 710 the mobile station applies a predetermined algorithm to the registration wait factor to calculate an adjusted waiting factor that is an actual time delay. The mobile station then checks if registration is required and waits for this period before registering if appropriate (step 710).

As mentioned above, the registration wait factor guides the mobile station in determining how much delay to configure before registration, in order to prevent system overload by all mobile stations attempting to register at the same time. In one example, the waiting factor constitutes the maximum waiting period, and each mobile station adjusts the waiting factor to arrive at the actual time delay by a specific reduction algorithm. One example is when the mobile station generates a random number between 0 and 1 and multiplies the wait factor by this number to reach the actual time delay. Another example is when the mobile station reads restriction information or other broadcast information from the BSPM and uses it to determine whether to register based on the access class, ESN, or other assignment code of the subscriber. In other words, the mobile station suspends until the BSPM indicates that registration is allowed for the main mobile station or a class containing such a mobile station.

In another example, the wait factor may be derived internally from a clock, counter, timer, lookup table, calculation algorithm, ESN, mobile station ID, or other data available to the mobile station without external input. In another example, the wait factor is not related to registration and, perhaps, is not intended to be used to develop the wait factor, but may be derived from external information useful for constructing variable wait factors for different mobile stations. Some examples include calendar dates, base station IDs, universal times, or any other useful code, message, number, pattern, or construct.

In either case, the above example allows some mobile stations to wait for a longer period of time and other mobile stations to wait for a shorter period of time to ensure prevention of registration overload. For ease of explanation, the further description is limited to the waiting factors obtained from the base station via BSPM.

Since the adjusted waiting factor is used by the mobile station as a pre-registration delay, the waiting factor allows the base station to spread mobile station registration for the selected period. For broadcast content with predicted high popularity, and for base stations that cover a large number of potential users, the base station specifies a longer wait factor (such as 60 seconds) so that zero (broadcast content is available first). In this case, the mobile registration can be spread over a period of up to the length of the entire waiting factor. For broadcast content of less popularity, the base station can specify a shorter wait factor or even zero.

After waiting at step 710, the mobile station again confirms (712) to determine if the registration indicator for the desired broadcast content stream is set to R or DNR to prevent unnecessary registration. If R, the mobile registers in step 714 by sending a predetermined format of the wireless registration message. In its registration, the mobile station uses a pre-allocated channel for this purpose, such as the Reverse Access Channel (R-ACCH) under the CDMA-2000 architecture.

Although different configurations can be used, the example registration message includes multiple parts. First, the message includes code, format, layout, headers or other information that indicates that it is a registration message unlike other types. Second, because the message contains a code that uniquely identifies the mobile station, the base station can confirm that this particular mobile station is subscribed to the actual broadcast content. Such codes may include known codes such as, for example, ESN, IMSI, TMSI, P-TMSI, and the like. Third, the registration message includes a code identifying the desired broadcast program for which registration is required. Optionally, the registration message may further comprise security parameters such as one or more of the following: (1) a digital signature or other subscriber identification code for the base station to verify the identity of the mobile station and / or subscriber, (2) transmission A message authentication code (e.g., a code calculated based on the integrity key and the message content) that proves to the base station that the registration message has not been tampered with; Cryptographic synchronization, such as the monotonic increment counter, which is reset when the mobile performs new authentication, which is used to protect against repeated attacks.

If the BSPM indicates the DNR for the desired broadcast content stream, the mobile skips step 714. After step 712 (DNR) or step 714 (R), the mobile station adjusts the transceiver and / or other available circuitry to initiate reception of the broadcast content stream.

In step 718, while continuing to receive the main broadcast program, the mobile station checks whether the scheduler 420 triggered an equivalent event (checking whether a re-registration analysis should be done). If the scheduler 420 is implemented, for example, as a timer, the timer's expiration signal informs it to perform re-registration analysis and re-register if appropriate. Optionally, when implemented as a countdown timer, the scheduler may use a variable countdown time. For example, the registration wait factor obtained in step 704 may provide a variable re-registration countdown or derive this variable value. Alternatively, scheduler 420 can configure a hardware interrupt if re-registration should be evaluated.

If re-registration is not required, the mobile station continues to receive the desired broadcast content stream to confirm that the mobile station has changed the base station (step 724). If the mobile station has changed the base station, re-registration may be required, as described in more detail below.

If the scheduler 520 experienced an evaluation event (step 718), the mobile station continues to receive the main broadcast program while performing re-registration analysis. That is, the mobile station checks the base station's current BSPM to verify that the registration indication for the desired broadcast content stream is set to R or DNR (step 722). If R, the mobile re-registers in step 723 by sending a predetermined format of the radio registration message to the base station. If the BSPM indicates the DNR for the desired broadcast program, the mobile station skips step 723. After step 722 (DNR) or step 723 (R), the mobile station verifies that the mobile station has changed the base station (step 724). This can be done, for example, by checking whether the identity of the serving base station of the mobile station has changed.

If the mobile station has changed the base station, step 724 proceeds to step 726. In step 726, the mobile station monitors the BSPM of the new base station to ascertain the availability of the desired broadcast program at the new base station and the associated registration waiting factor of the program. If the same broadcast program is available at the new base station, step 726 returns to step 710 to initiate the registration process at the base station. If the desired broadcast program is not available, step 726 returns to step 704 to fully evaluate the content availability at the new base station (706) to provide the user with the updated option.

Other embodiments

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that information and signals may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout the description may include voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic or magnetic particles, optical fields or their particles, Or any combination thereof.

In addition, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various exemplary logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps disclosed in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented in electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination thereof. To clearly illustrate hardware and software compatibility, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented in hardware or software depends upon the design constraints imposed on the particular application and the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present invention.

The various illustrative logic blocks, modules, and circuits disclosed in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein include a general purpose processor designed to perform the functions disclosed herein, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), It may be implemented or performed by a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, individual gate or transistor logic, individual hardware components, or any combination thereof. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in other embodiments, the general purpose processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, eg, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors, in conjunction with a DSP core or any other configuration.

The steps of a method or algorithm disclosed in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be executed directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. The software module may be included in a RAM memory, a flash memory, a ROM memory, an EPROM memory, an EEPROM memory, a register, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other type of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to a processor capable of reading information from and storing information on the storage medium. In other embodiments, the storage medium may be included in a processor. The processor and the storage medium may be included in an ASIC.

In addition, the disclosed embodiments have been described so that those skilled in the art can make and use the present invention. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that these embodiments can be variously modified, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. The term "exemplary" is used herein to mean "functioning as an example, example or illustration." Any embodiment disclosed herein as "exemplary" need not be configured to be preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

Claims (35)

A method of counting a wireless mobile station receiving broadcast content from a base station in a wireless communication network, the method comprising: Wherein the base station wirelessly broadcasts a repeat broadcast parameter message that includes the identity of one or more broadcast content streams, wherein the indicator has one of REGISTER and DO NOT REGISTER in association with each broadcast content stream. The broadcasting step; The mobile station repeatedly checking the contents of the broadcast parameter message according to predetermined schedules; In response to a condition including a check indicating that the indicator is set to REGISTER in association with a given broadcast content stream, users of the mobile station transmit a radio registration message in a prescribed format to the base station in association with the given broadcast content stream. Initiating a registration process comprising the steps of selecting to receive a given broadcast content stream; In response to a condition comprising a check indicating that the indicator is set to DO NOT REGISTER in association with a given broadcast content stream, inhibiting all mobile stations from transmitting registration messages to the base station in association with the given broadcast content stream. ; And In response to the count of mobile stations registered for a given broadcast content stream reaching a prescribed number, the base station sends a broadcast parameter message including a DO NOT REGISTER indicator instead of a REGISTER indicator in association with the given broadcast content stream. And a step of configuring. The method of claim 1, At a prescribed time after the count of registered mobile stations for a given broadcast content stream reaches a prescribed number, the base station configures the recount by associating the indicator with REGISTER instead of DO NOT REGISTER in association with the given broadcast content stream. And further comprising initiating a counting method of the wireless mobile station. The method of claim 1, In response to the base station detecting the occurrence of one or more changes of a given type of given broadcast content stream, configuring the indicator as a REGISTER in association with the given broadcast content stream. The method of claim 1, The broadcast parameter message includes a plurality of broadcast content streams, and in association with all broadcast content streams, a single indicator has a value of one of REGISTER, DO NOT REGISTER, Wherein the initiating and suppressing step is performed for a broadcast content stream and the configuring step is performed for a set of all broadcast content streams. The method of claim 1, Using a separate point-to-point channel to deliver the given broadcast content stream to the registered mobile stations in response to the count of mobile stations registered for the given broadcast content stream not exceeding a predetermined number; And In response to the count of mobile stations registered for the given broadcast content stream exceeding the predetermined number, using a shared forward link channel to deliver the given broadcast content stream to the registered mobile stations. The counting method of a wireless mobile station further comprising. The method of claim 1, The registration process further includes the mobile station delaying transmission of a registration message by a traffic reduction period, Each traffic reduction period is Fixed delay; Random delay; Variable delay derived from information inherent in the mobile station; A variable delay derived from information obtained from the mobile station and independent of registration; And A real time delay derived from a registration wait factor for the given broadcast content stream, wherein the registration wait factor comprises one of an actual time delay obtained from a broadcast parameter message. The method of claim 1, The broadcast parameter message further includes one or more registration wait factors; The steps are Obtaining a registration wait factor from the broadcast parameter message; Deriving an actual time delay using the obtained registration waiting factor; And Using the actual time delay as a countdown timer to trigger a repetition of inspecting the contents of the broadcast parameter message. The method of claim 1, Transmitting the wireless registration message of the prescribed format, For each mobile station, indicate one or more security items, i.e., a subscriber identification code, a message authentication code derived from selected other components of the registration message, and a relative sequence of the registration message to other messages sent by the mobile station. And transmitting the sequence code. The method of claim 8, The steps are A subscriber identification code that does not verify the identity of the transmitting mobile station; A message authentication code indicating that a content of the registration message has been changed; And The base station performs a security review of the registration messages of the mobile station, including discarding each registration message that satisfies any one or more of the sequence codes that do not exhibit sequence difference for other messages from the same mobile station. Further comprising performing a counting method of a wireless mobile station. The method of claim 1, The steps further include establishing a subscription of the mobile station to a desired broadcast content stream; The mobile stations limit the execution of the initiation and suppression steps for the broadcast content stream subscribed by the mobile stations. The method of claim 1, The broadcast parameter message identifies one or more broadcast content streams that are scheduled to start at a specified future time, The above steps may, at the prescribed time, determine whether the count of mobile stations registered for a given broadcast content stream exceeds a predetermined number, If exceeded, co-deliver the broadcast content stream to the registered mobile stations using a shared forward link channel, If not exceeding, further comprising separately delivering the broadcast content stream to the registered mobile stations using separate point-to-point channels. The method of claim 1, The steps are Supplementing a count of mobile stations registered for the given broadcast content stream to additionally include any mobile station receiving the given broadcast content stream from a base station on separate point-to-point channels. Counting Method. The method of claim 1, The steps are After initial registration for a given broadcast content stream, the mobile station further comprises receiving reception of the given broadcast content stream over a shared forward link broadcast channel. A method of tracking a count of mobile stations receiving broadcast content from a base station, the method comprising: The base station identifying one or more broadcast content streams, and associated with each stream, to broadcast a repetition message by identifying a REGISTER (R) or DO NOT REGISTER (DNR) indicator; If the indicator is R for a given broadcast content stream, selecting users of the mobile station to receive a given broadcast content stream that transmits a base station radio registration message in association with the stream; When the count of registered mobile stations for a given stream reaches a prescribed number, the base station reconfiguring a repeating parameter message to indicate a DNR indicator in association with the given stream; And If the notation is DNR for a given stream, then mobile stations refrain from transmitting radio registration messages in association with the stream. A method of operating a wireless mobile station to participate in a scheme of counting mobile stations receiving broadcast content from a base station in a wireless communication network, the method comprising: Receiving a wireless transmission of a repeat broadcast parameter message from a base station, the message comprising an identity of one or more broadcast content streams, the associated with each broadcast content stream, the indicator being one of REGISTER, DO NOT REGISTER Receiving a wireless transmission having a value of? Repeatedly checking the contents of the broadcast parameter message according to a predetermined schedule; In response to a condition including a check indicating that the user of the mobile station has set the indicator to REGISTER in association with a given broadcast content stream selected for reception, the initiation of a registration process is defined in association with the given broadcast content stream. Transmitting a wireless registration message to the base station; And In response to a condition comprising a check indicating that the indicator is set to DO NOT REGISTER in association with a given broadcast content stream, refraining from transmitting certain wireless registration messages to the base station in association with the given broadcast content stream. And a method of operating a wireless mobile station. The method of claim 15, The steps are After initial registration for a given broadcast content stream, the mobile station further comprises initiating reception of the given broadcast content stream over a shared forward link broadcast channel. The method of claim 15, The registration process, The mobile station delaying transmission of registration messages by a traffic reduction period, The traffic reduction period is Fixed delay; Random delay; Variable delay derived from information inherent in the mobile station; A variable delay derived from information obtained from the base station and independent of registration; And An actual time delay derived from a registration wait factor for the given broadcast content stream, wherein the registration wait factor comprises one of an actual time delay obtained from the broadcast parameter message. The method of claim 15, The broadcast parameter message further includes one or more registration wait factors; The steps are Obtaining a registration wait factor from the broadcast parameter message; Deriving an actual time delay using the obtained registration waiting factor; And Using the actual time delay as a countdown timer to trigger a repetition of examining the contents of a broadcast parameter message. The method of claim 15, Transmitting the wireless registration message of the prescribed format, For each mobile station, indicate one or more security items, i.e., a subscriber identification code, a message authentication code derived from selected other components of the registration message, and a relative sequence of registration messages for other messages sent by the mobile station. And transmitting the sequence code. The method of claim 15, The mobile station restricts execution of the initiation and suppression steps for the broadcast content stream subscribed by the mobile station. A signal carrier medium tangibly embodying a program of machine readable instructions that can be executed by a digital data processor performing steps for a wireless mobile station to participate in a manner of counting mobile stations receiving broadcast content from a base station in a wireless communication network. as, The steps are Receiving a wireless transmission of a repeat broadcast parameter message from a base station, the message comprising the identity of one or more broadcast content streams, and in association with each broadcast content stream, the indicator is one of REGISTER, DO NOT REGISTER. Receiving a radio transmission, having a value; Repeatedly checking the contents of the broadcast parameter message according to a predetermined schedule; In response to a condition including a check indicating that the user of the mobile station has set the indicator to REGISTER in association with a given broadcast content stream selected for reception, the initiation of a registration process is defined in association with the given broadcast content stream. Transmitting a wireless registration message to the base station; And In response to a condition comprising a check indicating that the indicator is set to DO NOT REGISTER in association with a given broadcast content stream, refraining from transmitting certain wireless registration messages to the base station in association with the given broadcast content stream. And a signal carrier medium. A circuit comprising a plurality of interconnecting electrically conductive elements configured to perform steps for a wireless mobile station to participate in a manner of counting mobile stations receiving broadcast content from a base station in a wireless communication network, the circuit comprising: The steps are Receiving a wireless transmission of a repeat broadcast parameter message from a base station, the message comprising the identity of one or more broadcast content streams, and in association with each broadcast content stream, the indicator is one of REGISTER, DO NOT REGISTER. Receiving a radio transmission, having a value; Repeatedly checking the contents of the broadcast parameter message according to a predetermined schedule; In response to a condition including a check indicating that the user of the mobile station has set the indicator to REGISTER in association with a given broadcast content stream selected for reception, the initiation of a registration process is defined in association with the given broadcast content stream. Transmitting a wireless registration message to the base station; And In response to a condition comprising a check indicating that the indicator is set to DO NOT REGISTER in association with a given broadcast content stream, refraining from transmitting certain wireless registration messages to the base station in association with the given broadcast content stream. Included, circuit. A wireless mobile station for use in a wireless communication network, Transceiver; speaker; microphone; User interface; And A manager coupled to the transceiver, a speaker, a microphone, and a user interface and programmed to perform steps for the wireless mobile station to participate in a manner of counting mobile stations receiving broadcast content from a base station in a wireless communication network; , The steps are Receiving a wireless transmission of a repeat broadcast parameter message from a base station, the message comprising an identity of one or more broadcast content streams, the associated with each broadcast content stream, the indicator being one of REGISTER, DO NOT REGISTER Receiving a wireless transmission having a value of? Repeatedly checking the contents of the broadcast parameter message according to a predetermined schedule; In response to a condition including a check indicating that the user of the mobile station has set the indicator to REGISTER in association with a given broadcast content stream selected for reception, the initiation of a registration process is defined in association with the given broadcast content stream. Transmitting a wireless registration message to the base station; And In response to a condition comprising a check indicating that the indicator is set to DO NOT REGISTER in association with a given broadcast content stream, refraining from transmitting certain wireless registration messages to the base station in association with the given broadcast content stream. Wireless mobile station. Transceiver means for wirelessly transmitting and receiving signals; Speaker means for producing an audio output from an electrical input; Microphone means for producing an electrical output from an audio input; User interface means for converting human input into machine readable input and converting machine readable output into human readable output; And Manager means coupled to the transceiver means, speaker means, microphone means, and user interface means for performing steps of a wireless mobile station to participate in a manner of counting mobile stations receiving broadcast content from a base station in a wireless communication network; , The steps are Receiving a wireless transmission of a repeat broadcast parameter message from a base station, the message comprising an identity of one or more broadcast content streams, the associated with each broadcast content stream, the indicator being one of REGISTER, DO NOT REGISTER Receiving a wireless transmission having a value of? Repeatedly checking the contents of the broadcast parameter message according to a predetermined schedule; In response to a condition including a check indicating that the user of the mobile station has set the indicator to REGISTER in association with a given broadcast content stream selected for reception, the initiation of a registration process is defined in association with the given broadcast content stream. Transmitting a wireless registration message to the base station; And In response to a condition comprising a check indicating that the indicator is set to DO NOT REGISTER in association with a given broadcast content stream, refraining from transmitting certain wireless registration messages to the base station in association with the given broadcast content stream. Wireless mobile station. A method of operating one or more components of a wireless communication network that counts wireless mobile stations that receive broadcast content from a given base station, the method comprising: A base station wirelessly broadcasts a repeating broadcast parameter message that includes the identity of one or more broadcast content streams, in association with each broadcast content stream, wherein the indicator has a value of either REGISTER or DO NOT REGISTER. A wireless broadcasting step; Receiving, by the base station, any wireless registration message sent by the mobile station, the registration message having a prescribed format, each registration message being associated with a given broadcast content stream; And In response to the count of mobile stations registered for a given broadcast content stream reaching a prescribed number, the base station configures a broadcast parameter message to include a DO NOT REGISTER indicator instead of a REGISTER indicator in association with the broadcast stream. And operating one or more components of the wireless communications network. The method of claim 25, The steps comprise the indicator configured as a REGISTER instead of a DO NOT REGISTER in association with a given broadcast content stream at a specified time after the count of registered mobile stations for a given broadcast content stream reaches a prescribed number. And thereby initiating a recount by operating one or more components of the wireless communications network. The method of claim 25, The steps are In response to a base station detecting the occurrence of one or more changes of a given type of a given broadcast content stream, configuring the indicator as a REGISTER in association with the given broadcast content stream. How to operate an element. The method of claim 25, The steps include using a separate point-to-point channel to deliver the given broadcast content stream to the registered mobile station in response to the count of mobile stations registered for a given broadcast content stream not exceeding a predetermined number. ; And In response to the count of mobile stations registered for the given broadcast content stream exceeding the predetermined number, using a shared forward link channel to deliver the given broadcast content stream to the registered mobile stations. Further comprising a method of operating one or more components of a wireless communications network. The method of claim 25, The wireless registration message in the prescribed format may include one or more security items, i.e., a subscriber identification code, a message authentication code derived from selected other components of the registration message, and the registration message for other messages sent by the mobile station. A sequence code representing the relative sequence of The steps are A subscriber identification code that does not verify the identity of the transmitting mobile station; A message authentication code indicating that a content of the registration message has been changed; Determining the justification of any received registration messages by discarding each registration message that satisfies any one or more of the sequence codes that do not indicate sequence differences for other messages from the same mobile station. How to operate one or more components. The method of claim 25, The borodcast parameter messages identify one or more broadcast content streams that are scheduled to start at a specified future time, The steps determine, at the prescribed time, whether the count of mobile stations registered for a given broadcast content stream exceeds a predetermined number, If exceeded, simultaneously deliver the broadcast content stream to the registered mobile stations using a shared forward link channel, If not exceeding, separately delivering the broadcast content stream to the registered mobile stations using a separate point-to-point channel. The method of claim 25, The steps are Supplementing a count of mobile stations registered for the given broadcast content stream to additionally include any mobile station receiving the given broadcast content stream from a base station on separate point-to-point channels. A method of operating one or more components of. A signal carrier medium tangibly embodying a program of machine readable instructions executable by a digital data processor to perform steps for one or more components of a wireless communications network to count wireless mobile stations receiving broadcast content from a given base station. as, The steps are The base station wirelessly broadcasting a repeating broadcast parameter message that includes the identity of one or more broadcast content streams, wherein the indicator has one of REGISTER and DO NOT REGISTER in association with each broadcast content stream. A wireless broadcasting step; Receiving, by the base station, any wireless registration message sent by mobile stations, the registration message having a prescribed format, each registration message being associated with a given broadcast content stream; And In response to the count of registered mobile stations for a given broadcast content stream reaching a prescribed number, configure the broadcast parameter message so that the base station includes a DO NOT REGISTER indicator instead of a REGISTER indicator in association with the broadcast stream. Signal carrying medium. A circuit comprising a plurality of interconnecting electrically conductive elements configured to perform steps for one or more components of a wireless communications network to count wireless mobile stations receiving broadcast content from a given base station, the circuit comprising: The steps are Wherein the base station wirelessly broadcasts a repeat broadcast parameter message that includes the identity of one or more broadcast content streams, in association with each broadcast content stream, the indicator selects one of REGISTER and DO NOT REGISTER. Having a wireless broadcasting step; The base station receiving certain wireless registration messages sent by mobile stations, the registration messages having a prescribed format, each registration message being associated with a given broadcast content stream; And In response to the count of registered mobile stations for a given broadcast content stream reaching a prescribed number, configure the broadcast parameter message so that the base station includes a DO NOT REGISTER indicator instead of a REGISTER indicator in association with the broadcast stream. And circuitry. Input / output; Digital data storage; A processor coupled to the input / output and storage and programmed to perform steps for the base station for counting wireless mobile stations receiving broadcast content from the base station, The steps are Wirelessly broadcasting a repeating broadcast parameter message that includes the identity of one or more broadcast content streams, wherein the indicator has a value of one of REGISTER, DO NOT REGISTER, in association with each broadcast content stream. A broadcasting step; Receiving certain wireless registration messages sent by mobile stations, the registration messages having a prescribed format, each registration message being associated with a given broadcast content stream; And In response to the count of registered mobile stations for a given broadcast content stream reaching a prescribed number, configuring a broadcast parameter message to include a DO NOT REGISTER indicator instead of a REGISTER indicator in association with the broadcast stream. And a base station of a wireless communication network. First means for performing input / output; Second means for storing machine readable data; Processor means coupled to the first and second means, for performing steps for the base station to count wireless mobile stations receiving broadcast content from the base station, The steps are Wirelessly broadcasting a repeating broadcast parameter message that includes the identity of one or more broadcast content streams, wherein the indicator has a value of one of REGISTER, DO NOT REGISTER, in association with each broadcast content stream. A broadcasting step; Receiving certain wireless registration messages sent by mobile stations, the registration messages having a prescribed format, each registration message being associated with a given broadcast content stream; And In response to the count of registered mobile stations for a given broadcast content stream reaching a prescribed number, configuring a broadcast parameter message to include a DO NOT REGISTER indicator instead of a REGISTER indicator in association with the broadcast stream. And a component of a wireless communication network.